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Bhubaneswar, May 24: All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Ajoy Kumar Sunday criticised the Centre for slashing Rs 14,089 crore in the past year from education budget.
“BJP-led government has pruned educational budget by Rs 14089 crore. Spending in elementary education was reduced by Rs 10,186 crore, secondary education by Rs 1,422 crore and higher education by Rs 1479 crore,” Ajoy Kumar told reporters at the state Congress headquarters here.
“Intentionally induced ‘Institutional paralysis’ and diffusion of ‘Education’ through malicious controversies have been the hallmarks of Modi government’s one year in power,” he pointed out. Alleging that educational system is under RSS influence, Kumar said, “Crucial academic appointments are being made from under-qualified Sangh Parivar loyalists.”
He said, the NDA government has abolished Central assistance to set up 6,000 model schools at block levels. The HRD ministry order to abandon German teaching in Kendriya Vidyalayas as third language in favour of Sanskrit, in mid-session, has affected 70,000 students across 500 schools.
“Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani has filed two conflicting affidavits with the Election Commission in 2004 and 2014. She described herself as a graduate in 2004 and as B.Com first year pass in 2014.”
Meanwhile, BJP state leader Sajjan Sharma refuted the Congress allegations as baseless. ‘‘After formation of NITI Aayog the Modi-government has given financial independence to all states to help them implement schemes in various sectors including education.”
